Elevator leg



' April 19, 1932.

R. OWENS ET AL ELEVATOR LEG Filed Feb. 15, 1931 129 be LQi/ Patented Apr. 19, I932 TES . UNETE ST ROBERT J. OWENS AND JOHN L. OWENS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA ELEVATOR LEG Application filed February 13, 1931. Serial No. 515,555.

Our present invention relates to portable elevators for grain and the like and has for its object the provision of a novel leg therefor that is strong and durable and at the same time rigid and of relatively light weight.

To the above end, the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable elevator, the leg of which is constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the elevator leg at one of the oints therein, on an enlarged scale; and

Figs. 3 and 4: are views in section taken on the lines 33 and 1-4; of Fig. 2, respectively.

The portable elevator illustrated is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 5, with the exception of its leg 6, which is the subjectmatter of the present invention. This elevator leg 6, as shown, is substantially square in cross-section and comprises several longitudinally aligned sections, and the endwise abutting sections are connected by a novel joint.

The elevator leg 6 is preferably formed from galvanized sheetmetal, and the side members 7 and bottom member 8 of each section are formed from a single sheet of metal. This sheet of metal, at the lower longitudinal corners of the leg section, is folded upon itself and pressed together to form outwardly projecting reinforcing flanges 9, which extend substantially in the planes of the side -members 7 and form extensions thereof.

The top member of each leg section is formed from a single sheet of metal, the longitudinal edge portions of which are bent laterally outward to form flanges 11. This top member 10 snugly fits between the side members 7 and with its flanges 11 contacting with the inner faces of said side members. The sheet of metal forming the top member 10 is further shaped to form, intermediate of the flanges 11, a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinal reinforcing corrugations 12 which extend the full length of the leg section. The top member 10 is rigidly secured to the side members 7 by a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced rivets 13, which connect the flanges 11 to said side members.

A horizontal partition 14 extends longitudinally through each leg section and divides the same into a lower compartment 15 and an upper compartment 16 of substantially the same height. As shown, this partition 1 1 is made from wood, secured by screws 17 to the side members 7. i

The endwise abutting sections of the elevator leg 6 are rigidly connected and reinforced by novel joints, each of which includes a lower pair of angle bars 17, an upper pair of angle bars 18, and joint plates 20. The angle bars 18, of the lower pair, are fitted in the corners formed by the bottom member 8 and flanges 9, with their upright flanges engaging the flanges 9 and rigidly secured theretoby rivets 21 and with their horizontal flanges engaging the bottom member 8 and supporting the same. I

The upper angle bars 18 are fitted in the corners, formed by the top member 10 and its flanges 11. The outturned flanges'o'f the angle bars 18 engage the inner faces of the flanges 11 and are rigidly secured thereto by certain of the rivets 13, and their other flanges engage the outer face of said top member.- The length of the, angle bars 18 and 19 is such as to extend for a considerable distance on each side of the joint between abutting leg sections.

The joint plates 20 overlap the joints between the abutting sections of the leg 6 at the outer faces of. the side members 7, and are rigidly secured thereto bycertain of the rivets 13 and 21.

The angle bars 18 and 19 securely and rigidly hold the abutting sections of the elevator leg 6 against movement in all directions. These angle bars 18 and 19 are applied to the elevator leg 6 in such a manner that theyare entirely out of the way, confined within the field of the leg structure, and at the Sametime are so positioned as to give the greatest rigidity to the leg structure.

For the purpose of this case it will not be necessary to show the endless elevator, the lower section of which will run on the bottom members of the elevator leg and the upper section of which will run on the partition.

The joints between the side members 7 and bottom members 8 are very tight and at the same time rigid, so that the same will not open up and permit an accumulation of dirt and grain therein that would interfere with the action of the conveyor in the elevator leg 6. Where grain is allowed to accumulate in a joint, the same will swell when damp and open up the joint.-

What we claim is:

1. An elevator leg having side members and a bottom member formed from a single sheet of metal, which at the corners of said members is folded upon itself and pressed to gether to form a pair of longitudinal reinforcing body flanges that are substantially in the planes of the side members and form extensions thereof outward of said bottom member, and a top member between the side members, and having outturned flanges bearing against the side members and rigidly se cured thereto.

' 2. The structure defined in claim 1, which further includes angle bars in the corners formed by the bottom member and flanges, with certain of their flanges rigidly secured to the body flanges and with their other flanges supporting the bottom member.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, which further includes angle bars in the corners formed by the top member and its flanges, certain of the flanges of the angle bars being rigidly secured to the flanges of the top member and the side members, and with their other flanges bearing on the top member.

4. An elevator leg comprising two endwise abutting sections, each section having side members and a bottom member formed from a single sheet of metal which at the corners of said members is folded upon itself and pressed together to form a pair of longitudinal reinforcing body flanges that are substantially in the planes of the side members and form extensions thereof outward of the bottom members, angle bars in the corners formed by the bottom members and body flanges and overlapping both of the leg sections, certain of the flanges of the angle bars being rigidly secured to the body flanges on both of said leg sections, and with their other flanges supporting the bottom members of both of said sections.

5. lhe structure defined in claim 4 which further includes joint plates on the outer faces of the side members, overlapping the joint between the endwise abutting sections, and rigidly secured thereto.

6. An elevator leg comprising two endwise abutting sections, each of which includes side members, a bottom member and a top member, with said side and bottom members formed from a single sheet of metal, which at the corners of said members is folded upon itself and pressed together to form a pair of longitudinal body flanges that are substantially in the planes of the side members and form extensions thereof outward of the bottom members, the top member being between the side members and having outturned flanges bearing against the side members and rigidly secured thereto, and angle bars overlapping said two sections, certain of the angle bars being in the corners formed by the bottom members and the body flanges, with certain of their flanges rigidly secured to the body flanges of both sections, and with their other flanges supporting the bottom members of both of said sections, the other of said angle bars being in the corners formed by the top members and their flanges, with certain of their flanges rigidly secured to the flanges of the top members and the side members of both of said sections, and with their other flanges bearing on the top members of both of said sections.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, which further includes joint plates on the outer faces of the side members, overlapping the joint between the two sections and rigidly secured thereto.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

ROBERT J. OWENS. JOHN L. OWENS. 

